Automatic ringing and listening key.



PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.

A. GARLISS. AUTOMATIC RINGING AND LISTENING KEY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20,1901.

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UNITED sfrAr 1s s ra'rnnr OFFICE.

ALBERT UARLISS. OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN EIJEC'IRIO TELEPHONE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 20, 1906.

Application filed June 20. 1901. Burial No. 85,240.

.To allwhmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBEK'ICARLISS, a citizen of the United States of America and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Automatic Listening and Rin mg Keys, of which the following is a spec! cation.

My invention relates to improvements in operators listening and ringing keys, and has special reference to those known as antomatic ringing-keys, though manv of its features may he used to advantage in kindred devices and other relations.

The invention has for its objects the provision of an apparatus of the class described which can be constructed on substantially the same lines as other ringing and listening keys with slight additions that will he simple and comprisefew parts,that can be manufactured at slight cost, and one that will be efl ieient and durable in operation. cordance with these objects and the inven- [i011 I provide the key with a top plate having one end of greater length than usual, through a longitudinal slot in which the keylevcr projects for the operation of the device.

A framework beneath the top plate comprises side members or plates havln pivoted JEIWEEH their upper ed 'es the swltc -operatin acinsulating-rollers 6 are journaled.

tion of parts hereinafter described, and particularl pointed out in the claims.

One orm of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which the same referonce-numerals designate like parts throughout the, several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device from the relay side. Fig. 4 is a similar view from the other side. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional elevation on the line a. a of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the magnet-armature. Fig. 7 is a corresponding view of the lever-locking member.

In the times, 2 designates the top plate, which is adapted to be secured and set into the keyboard of the switch and through which screws may pass to secure it thereto. The framework beneath the late comprises the two side frame-plates 3, depending therefrom a suitable distance apart and having pivoted centrally between theirupper edges on the pin 7 the rockin or tilting frame of the key-lever, having the at narrow central Web 4 and the vertical horizontal side arms 5 integral therewith, between the ends of which the airs of he side plates 3 are centrally cut away to leave only ing frame. to which the -ey-lever is attached i a narrow strip about its edges; but the deand which carries in horizontal arms small insulating-rollers adapted to act upon the pending lugs 8 remain to support the framepivot. Beneath the transverse web the narends of vertical rings or contacts mounted row irregular locking member 9 rests, it havm insulating-bloc s secured and clamped be- 7 mg a circular hor1z0nt-al portion located untween the lower edges of said side plates. A small u right magnet 15 secured to the side lockingnrm secured to the rocking leverframe. the same piece having an oppositelyextending arm adapted to codperate with two of the series of vertical spring-contacts befurl mentioned on the opposite side of the key from the relay. Means are also provided for securing this arrangement and construener.

The invention further consists in the novel details of c mstruction, parts, and combine.-

derneath the web 4 of the tiltin lever-frame l and secured thereto by the rodiandle 11, as edges 0 said side plates beneath the exteni sion of the top plate, and its armature is pro 1 vided with a rearwardly-extending arm, le- 5 vcr. or tailpiece adapted at the proper time to engage and look a corresponding catch or 5 shown, the latter extending through a slot 12 in the plate 2 to the upperside,where it is provided with a handle-piece 13 to operate the switch. This locking member is rovided on one side with a downwardly ant outwardly curved arm 14 ,passing around and beneath the rollers on that side of the frame, and with a similarly-depending circuit-closing arm 15 on the other, having a T end l6.as shown in Fi 7. Sets of springs or terminals are vertical v mounted on each side of the frame, with their 1 free ends in operative relation, with the two tlon in a simple, cheap, and convenient manncctionwiththecircuit-wircs. ()nthconcsidc oi the terminals of the. nmgnebcoil to one of of the key the terminals 17 and 18am used to connect the operator's telephone with the del sired circuit, and owing to thc curves H) in the upper ends of the springs 18 when the key is pressed or thrown to that side it will remain there until manually started back, when the. sprin s will return it to normal position. It will observed that there are duplicate sets of springs to be used for both sides of the circuit. he springs 20 form terminals of another circuit and are connected together by the cross-arm 16, carried by the arm 15 of the lever when it is moved to the other side. The springs 21 and 22 are in the strands of the cord-circuit or similar circuit and are normally connected together. The springs 23 may be connected with a ringinggenerator or other device and are connected with springs 22 when the key is thrown to that side by reason of the curves at the upper ends oi the latter, which enga e the rollers 6.

It is often desired to move the key to that side and have it locked there until certain op erations take place, as in rlngm a subscrlber it may be desired to ring his bell until his response and to thereby automatically disconmeet the gcneratorr I rovide for such an operation by securing tie magnet 25 to the ringing side of. the switch and constructing it to control the locking-arm 14 of the key-le- VET.

a central core and a shell of strap-iron having The specific construction is as follows: The ma net 25 comprises the coil 26, having i the twoside pieces 27 and end piece 28, the latter connecting with the core. With this arrangement the magnet is provided at its upper end with an armature 29, which is pivoted 1n the cars 30 integral with the side pieces 27. Side lugs 31 are also formed integral frame v screws The armature :29 has a real-war ly and downwardly eiitendin arm 32, the end of which is ada ited lock the arm 14 when the i that side and the magnet 25 is energized. soon as the magnet is rleener ized the arm ever is thrown to the springs 20, and which may form practicall a port of the structure of the said device, The said third terminal extending below the coil, as explained, connects with a resistance coil that for convenience sake is wound more inductively upon the outside of the other coil one sideof the same beingconnected with said magnet-coil inside the shell, while the other terminal is extended through the base, as shown, and may be connected with the circuits as desired.

It will be seen that the locking arm or projection l4 extends between the two springs 22, which latter are of course duplicates.

Other forms of the invention could obviously he made and not depart from the scope or purpose of that shown, and I therefore do not wish it to be limited to the precise details shown; but

What- I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- i i. In an o erator's key, the combination with a top p ate having a slot therein, side frame-plates depending therefrom, a frame pivoted between said side plates and having a kev-lever projecting through the slot, switc -sprin s and terminals mounted between said plates and adapted to be operated by said frame when thrown to one side or the other, an clectromagnet also mounted on said frame-plates, an arm secured to said frame and extending toward the magnet, an armature for the magnet harin a catch adapted to engage said arm when the lever is turned to one side.

2. in an operator's key, the combination with a top plate, dependingsideplates, a keylevcr pivoted between said plates and having a handle portion projectin above the top nith the members 27 and are used to secure the ma nets to the side plates of the switchto catch and 1 14 of the lever slips off the end of armaturc- 1 tad iece 32, and the lever is returned to norma position by the springs 22. nals of the magnet pro ect below the same Thrtcrmi- Z and, as shown. are three in number to accommodatc an extra winding on the coil for any desired purpose and to be connected in any way. side, the said arm 16 closes an electrical connection through the springs 20.

Although other circuit arrangements could be employed for the devices so far described.

I refer to have the springs .20, which are,

Then the key is thrown to the ringing platemiarmcarricd bysaid evcrbeneath the plate, a magnet supported beneath the top plate, and an armature therefor havingmeans to lock said arm when desired.

3. In an operators key, the combination with a top plate,of side plates dependingtherefrom, a key-lever pivoted between said plates, spring contacts or terminals secured in duplicate sets between said plates and in operative relation to the said key-lever, a locking-arm on said lever extending between the duplicate springs ofonc sct a magnet mount-ed nn said frame and having an armature, said armature having a locking-arm cooperating with the arm on the lever to lock said lever.

4 In an operator's key, the combination with a top plate, of side plates dcpcndin w ten the rinqin -contacts are closed, connect 1 ed together by t e cross-arm 16, complete the circuit through the "magnet 26, aconnection therefrom, a key-lever pivoted between sair plates. spring contacts or terminals secured Ill duplicate sets between said plates and in operative relation to the said key-lever, a circuit -closing arm and a lockin -arm carried by said lever, terminals on the one side to he engaged by said arm to close the circuit of any suitable character extending from one i tl'iereacross, a magnet on the other side having an armature provided with a catch to engage said locking-arm.

5. The combination of ringing switchsprings, listening switch-springs, a single key for operating said springs, an eleetromagnet adapted to be controlled by said key, and an armature for said magnet adapted to hold the key in a shifted position while attracted by the magnet, there being suitable provisions whereby the key and the electromagnetieally-operated locking means swing or oscillate about separate or non-coincident axes, said axes being parallel.

6. In an operators key, the combination with a top plate, of side plates depending therefrom, a key-lever pivoted between said plates, spring contacts or terminals secured in duplicate sets between said plates and in operative relation to the said key-lever, a locking-arm on said lever extending between the duplicate springs of one set, a magnet mounted on said frame and having an armature, said armature having a locking-arm cooperating with the arm on the lever to lock said lever, there being suitable provisions whereby the key-lever and the electromagnetically-operated locking means swing or oscillate about separate or non-coincident axes, said axes being parallel.

7. In an operators key, the combination with a top plate, of side plates depending therefrom, a key-lever pivoted between said plates, spring contacts or terminals secured in duplicate sets between said plates and in operative relation to the said key-lever, a locking-arm, terminals on the one side to be engaged by said arm to close the circuit thereacross, a magnet on the other side having an armature provided with a catch to engage said lockingarm, there being suitable provisions whereby the key-lever and the elcctromagnetically-operated locking means swing or oscillate about separate or noncoincident axes, said axes bein r parallel.

S. The combination o f ringing switchsprings, listening switch-springs, a key for operating said springs, an electromagnetic device adapted to be controlled by said key, and adapted when energized to retain said key in a shifted position, there being suitable provisions whereby the key and the electromagnetically-operated locking means swing or oscillate about separate or non-coincident axes, said axes being parallel.

9. The combination of aplurality of springswitches adapted to be employed for controlling a plurality of circuits, a single key for controlling all of said spring-switches, and an electromagnetic device adapted to be controlled by said key, and adapted when energized to retain said key in one of the latters shifted positions, there being suitable provisions whereby the key and the electromagnetically-operated-locking means swing or oscillate about separate or non-coincident axes, said axes being parallel.

Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, this 18th day of June, 1901.

ALBERT CARLISS.

Vvitnesses P. H. CLAUsEN, A. J. SINCLAIR. 

